Panel and tile therefor.



Patented Jan. 9, I900.

2 Sheets-Sheet l,

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F. L U. WADSWURTH.

PANEL AND TILE THEREFOR.

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(No Model.)

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.No. 64!],84l. Patented Jan. 9, I900.

F. 0. WADSWO RTH.

PANEL AND TILE THEREFOR.

(Application filed Apr. 13, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES FATENT rrrc FRANK L. O. WADSWORTH, OF WVILLIAMS BAY,WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM A. BOND, TRUSTEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PANEL AND TILE THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 640,841, dated January9, 1900. Application 516a April 13,1898. Serial No. 677,486. (rem-0.1615

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANK L. O. WADS- WORTH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Williams Bay, in the county of Walworth and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Panelsand Tiles Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tiles, either transparent or opaque and whichare to be assembled in a panel; and my invention consists of sooonstructin g the same and in so combining material that a strong andrigid panel is secured with no joints permitting of the passage ofwater, as fully set forth hereinafter panel. Figs. 3 to 9 represent insection the adjoining edges of tiles with intervening fill ing material,the ribs, and recesses of different forms.

The tiles N may be of any suitable shape, material, and proportions, butas shown are rectangular, all but those illustrated in the last twofigures being prismatic tiles. Each tile has upon some of the'edgeslongitudinal ribs or projections 1, and at the remaining edges grooves 2corresponding in form to the ribs 1, so that when a series of tiles isassembled, as in Fig. 2, the ribs of one tile will extend into thegrooves of the adjacent tiles. In building up illuminating and otherstructures, however, it is not only necessary to secure a bearing of onetile upon another, but it is further essential that the parts shall befixed and relatively immovable and also that the joints shall bewaterproof. To secure these results, the ribs are not of a size toexactly fit and fill the grooves, but are somewhat smaller or soconstructed that when the panels are slightly separated there will beanarrow space between the opposing edges of the tiles. This space isfilled with any suitable filling material, as cement, amalgam, or metalcast or electrodeposited on the edges, which in this case must be firstmetalized or coated with conducting material. The ribs, while they donot exactly fit the grooves, extend into the same so as to bear withinthe grooves on the filling material therein, whereby one tile istransversely supported by those adjacent, while the filling material,when of metal in one homogeneous piece, serves to bind and hold all theparts immovably together and to constitute, with the tiles, a rigidstructure of great strength, the depression of any tile simplycompressing the filling material and having no tendency to shear it. Tofurther unite the parts and lock them against independent lateraldisplacement or separation, the ribs may be larger at their outerportions and the grooves dovetailed, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9,the filling material in such case constitutinga key, which, unlesscrushed or broken, effectually prevents the withdrawal of the rib fromthe groove.

It is in most instances essential that the tiles shall be secured in asupporting-frame, and as some of the edges presented to this frame haveribs and others are grooved the frame A is provided at some of the sideswith grooved strips 4 and at the other sides with strips 5, adapted toenter the grooves in the tiles, the strips4 and 5 being secured in placeas shown or in any other suitable manner, and the filling extendingbetween the edges of the tiles and the faces of the strips and flanges.Any other suitable supporting-frame may be em ployed.

Without limiting myself to the precise construction shown or to the useof any special filling material, I claim as my invention- 1. A panelconsisting of a series of vitreous tiles having corresponding ribs andgrooves at their adjacent edges and a continuous metallic frame (cast orelectrodeposited) filling the spaces between the tiles, substantially asset forth.

2. A panel provided with a series of ribbed and grooved tiles arrangedwith the ribs of one within the recesses of others, but separated toform spaces, a surrounding frame and a filling material in said spacesand between the tiles and the frame, substantially as set forth.

8. A panel provided with a series of ribbed and grooved tfles arrangedwith the ribs of name to this specification in the presence of onewithin the recesses of others but separated two subscribing witnesses.

to form spaces, asurrounding frame and a me- FRANK L O WFADSWORTH talliefilling material in said spaces and be- 5 tween the tiles and the frame,substanoially Witnesses:

as set forth. HARRY E. HAY,

In testimony whereef I have signed my i W. CLARENCE DUVALL.

